The distance to a good cup of tea is the distance between oneself and the mountains and rivers of nature.

I will not boastingly tell you how many mountain peaks I have traveled or how many villages I have tasted to flaunt my knowledge and breadth. I also do not wish to endlessly explain the secrets of the tea leaves, for there are no two identical leaves in the world. Rather than obsessing over minute details in the leaves, it is better to let go of attachment and simply enjoy the leisure of a cup of tea. I will not complain about the ruggedness and bumps of the mountain roads either, because compared to the beautiful forests and seas of clouds along the way, all fatigue and hardship are offset. Moreover, the surprise and joy of discovering excellent tea after crossing mountain after mountain are priceless.

A good cup of Pu-erh tea should at least meet the following two conditions:

1. Originate from a favorable ecological environment

Since ancient times, it has been said that "high mountains and misty clouds produce good tea." A favorable ecological environment must have lush vegetation, ancient towering trees, and dense green leaves shading half the sky. Sitting under a tea tree, you can smell the fragrance of flowers and plants, hear the chorus of cicadas in the trees, and occasionally see butterflies fluttering by, alighting on green ferns, their wings translucent in the sunlight.

Tea from such an environment feels pure, clear, and distinctive within the body. It is like a person who is wise and experienced in worldly affairs, yet remains vivid and full of charm.

2. Adhere to ecological farming and traditional craftsmanship

Ecological Farming: Skilled tea pickers follow the standard of plucking one bud with two leaves while removing excess old leaves, leaving only two on the branch. The entire tea bush sways like vines in the sunlight and rain.

This traditional picking method has three benefits: First, it prevents old leaves from competing with new buds for nutrients. When the wind blows, all branches are exposed; when the sun shines, all branches are illuminated. Second, the remaining old leaves retain some moisture, protecting the new buds. Third, the fallen old leaves decompose into fertile soil, nourishing the tea trees again.

Such traditional methods are only followed by the local, humble tea families. A good cup of Pu-erh tea begins in their "hands."

Traditional Craftsmanship: It must involve sun-drying and hand-firing. Any process relying on machinery can affect the clarity and purity of Pu-erh tea.

A day in the mountains feels like a millennium in the world. Gazing up at century-old tea trees, one suddenly feels the insignificance and limitations of human life, sighing with emotion, and thus learns to cherish and treat every cup of tea in hand with care.

A good cup of Pu-erh tea is not actually complicated; complexity lies in the human heart. The distance to a good cup of Pu-erh tea may seem like the distance between you and the mountains and rivers of nature, but from a psychological perspective, this distance is the distance between you and yourself. When you let go of attachment and挑剔, it does not mean you are being less serious. Rather, it means you are willing to treat yourself and the people and things around you—including every flower and tree—with gentleness. Only then can there be true "respect"!